Tea tree oil (TTO) exhibits excellent broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. In order to preserve it from the degradation in the presence of oxygen, light and temperature, TTO was encapsulated in liposomes (LTTOs) using the thinmembrane hydration and sonication method, and characterised by Zetasizer for size and size distribution, transmission electron microscope for morphology, zetapotential for surface charge, entrapment efficiency and TTO release from the nanoparticles. The antimicrobial activities of phosphate-buffered saline solution containing TTO, unloaded liposomes and LTTOs suspension were determined by twofold serial broth dilution technique. The size of LTTOs was 75 nm and the encapsulation efficiency of 96.08% was obtained. LTTOs exhibited slow release of TTO and superior broad-spectrum antimicrobial effects compared with free TTO. Liposomes not only effectively encapsulated TTO to form a stable liposome suspension, but also enhanced inhibition and bactericidal effect on the TTOtolerant strain. The liposomal systems carrying TTO may be a potential alternative for effective antimicrobial agents.

A method for the determination of four fluorescent whitening agents (FWAs) (FWA 357, FWA 220, FWA 204 and FWA 113) in disposable sanitary products by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) was developed. The sample was extracted with a 20 mL ultrapure water by sonication for 30 min at 80 °C. The HPLC method was performed on an SB Phenyl column (250 mm x 4. 6 mm, 5 µm) by gradient elution using 5 mmol/L ammonium acetate and acetonitrile as mobile phases, which can separate the target analytes successfully. The target analytes showed good linearity in the range of 0. 025-400 mg/L with the correlation coefficients (r2) greater than 0. 999 9. The limits of detection (LODs, S/N =3) were 0.02-0. 1 mg/L, and the method limits of quantification (MLOQs) were 1. 0 - 5. 0 mg/kg for the target analytes. The feasibility of this method was demonstrated by the determination of FWAs in samples with spiked recoveries. The recoveries were in the range between 83. 7% and 101. 0%, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) (n=6) ranged from 2. 4% to 7. 0%. This method is simple, and has high recoveries for the determination of FWAs in disposable sanitary products.